The UFC returns to our screens for a highly stacked pay-per-view event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC welterweight contenders Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will collide in the main event of the evening.
Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Covington and Masvidal, including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC 272 betting picks, predictions, and analysis.
Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal
UFC 272 Welterweight Main Event Bout
Saturday, March 05, 2022 – 10:15 PM EST at T-Mobile Arena
Colby Covington (16-3-0)
As a self-proclaimed “super villain” of the UFC’s welterweight division, Colby Covington has unquestionably succeeded at generating endless amounts of hate from the mixed martial arts community.
However, aside from his theatrics outside of the cage, he’s an extremely talented fighter with a wealth of MMA experience to back up his distasteful words.
Covington stems from an elite-level background in collegiate wrestling. His high school and college years were spent dominating the opposition on the wrestling mats, where he successfully obtained multiple championships before earning All-American honors in 2010.
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Most known for his feud with current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, the No.2 ranking position hasn’t been nudged despite losing consecutive bouts against the champ.
This is a testament to Covington’s skill level, and while you may dislike his persona, the 170lb weight class may have to answer to Covington before reaching their title aspirations.
Colby Covington MMA Accomplishments
- Interim UFC Welterweight Championship (One time)
- UFC Fight of the Night (One time)
- NCAA Division I All-American
- 2013 Gold Medal in the FILA No-Gi Grappling World Championship
Colby Covington Best Available Odds: To Win ML (-300) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Jorge Masvidal (35-15-0)
No. 7 ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal has followed a similar trend to his opponent next weekend, where he’s also lost back-to-back meetings with the divisions champion, Kamaru Usman.
Following a viral flying-knee knockout over Ben Askren that became the fasted KO in UFC history and a successful claim on the UFC’s first-ever ‘BMF’ championship over Nate Diaz, Masvidal subsequently fell victim to the superior skills of Usman.
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Masvidal will meet with a familiar foe in his return to the octagon following the aforementioned losses to Usman. Former training partner turned enemy, Colby Covington.
Despite his past with Covington, Masvidal’s rise to the heights of MMA was the polar opposite. Primarily a striker, Masvidal made his name street fighting before taking his aggression onto a professional stage.
And now, with 50 professional bouts to his name, the 37-year-old has the experience, notoriety, and respect to compete in pay-per-view main events without the requirement of title implications.
Jorge Masvidal MMA Accomplishments
- UFC ‘BMF’ Championship
- UFC Fight of the Night (Two times)
- UFC Performance of the Night (Four times)
- Fastest Knockout in UFC History (5 seconds) vs. Ben Askren
Jorge Masvidal Available Odds: To win ML (+265) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Breakdown and Analysis
Covington Fight Style and How Can Covington Defeat Masvidal?
Whilst displaying his ability to stand and bang with Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley in his most recent outings, we mustn’t neglect the bread and butter of Covington – the wrestling, particularly that he’s now faced with a fighter in Masvidal who solely relies on his striking output for success.
I expect Covington will test his striking skills in hopes of emulating the knockout victory that Usman owns over Masvidal. However, the wrestling advantage will heavily favor the former interim champ if the offensive striking fails to deliver.
Masvidal Fight Style and How Can Masvidal Defeat Covington?
Masvidal enters this matchup relying on his smooth striking prowess, and he’ll need to have his sprawling game on point to avoid the grappling threats that Covington will pose.
“Street Jesus” has incredible boxing; he’s very light on his feet and will undoubtedly be the more proficient striker. With fundamental boxing combinations up close, he notably enjoys the 2-3 combos and switches stance to close the distance with a nice hook to follow.
Masvidal will want to watch his hands being lowered, moving backward; this became apparent when Usman found the knockout punch in their second meeting. His best chance of victory is obvious; keep it standing, but avoiding the takedowns is easier said than done.
Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal Prediction and UFC 272 Odds
The available odds at Bookmakers Review opened with Covington as a significant betting favorite. These odds are no surprise because of his solid durability and wrestling output.
On the topic of durability, both fighters have proven to have noteworthy chins throughout their respective careers. Covington isn’t known for his finishing ability, and the dangers of Masvidal’s offense will likely be nullified by his opponent's strengths in the wrestling department.
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Instead of paying the juice on Covington for your UFC picks, this bitter rivalry will likely reach the latter rounds, making the over 4 ½ rounds a viable wager.
UFC 272 Pick: Over 4 ½ Rounds (-135) [1.35u returns 1u profit] at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
